Host of the recent UCI Road World Championships, the Australian city of Wollongong continues to promote cycling to its citizens. The first city in the southern hemisphere to be awarded the UCI Bike City Label, Wollongong has appointed two bike ambassadors whose enthusiasm for the sport is contagious.
Samara Sheppard is a link to the local road, gravel, mountain bike cross-country and all abilities communities. She has raced internationally since 2007. Josh Carlson is a well-known media personality in mountain bike and jumps at any chance to spread a positive word about Wollongong’s mountain bike potential. He has been racing internationally since 2010.
Both have featured in a “Ride and Discover Video Series” available on the Visit Wollongong website.
Both help promote Wollongong as a cycling city and tourist destination thanks to their experience, knowledge and networks. We ask them a few questions…
Why did you decide to accept this role?
Samara and Josh: To use our cycling knowledge and networks to help Wollongong reach its UCI Bike City potential. It really is one of the best cycling destinations in the world. We have both been traveling and racing all over the world for more than a decade. The UCI Bike City status is a dream opportunity for us to give back to Wollongong and the greater cycling community which have given us so much over the years. Wollongong has already proven to be a world class training ground and capable of hosting the biggest cycling event in the world (to date). We are proud to live in Wollongong, excited about its cycling future and we want the world to know how great it is.
How would you describe your role?
Josh: I would like to think that my role as a professional mountain bike athlete, being based and bred out of Wollongong is inspiring to the next generation of cyclist and mountain biker and can give them some encouragement to chase their dreams of one day being a professional who spreads the word of our beautiful city to the world.
Samara: I am passionate about cycling in all forms and for all people and want to help make Wollongong an attractive and accessible cycling destination for everyone. Having almost finished my Masters of Public Health here in Wollongong, and with my experience working in the disability sector, this ambassador role is an exciting opportunity for me to help make Wollongong the most innovative and inclusive UCI Bike City.
What was your role during the recent UCI Road World Championships?
Josh: Unfortunately I was away racing in the Enduro World Series and the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships while the event was on so I was unable to be as hands on as I would have liked. My role in the lead up to the event was mainly linked to promotion through communication, marketing and various social media including the shooting of videos. I participated in local news segments, newspaper articles, radio conversations and major cycling media outlets. I feel like I was the general ’Stoke Sharer’ of the event in the lead up to the race.
Samara: Helping to showcase Wollongong to our visitors. Helping visitors and our community to find out more information about the event and ways they can be involved. Working with the UCI social media team to create Wollongong 2022 and UCI Bike City content. I really enjoyed showing off Wollongong. Another fun task was to highlight our UCI Bike City initiatives to UCI’s Advocacy and Development Manager Isabella Burczak, so she can see our progress and so we can learn from her feedback. I truly had the time of my life watching the UCI Road Worlds with family, friends, and the world of cycling in my adopted hometown of Wollongong.
Tell us more about Wollongong’s new mountain bike trail.
Samara: 50+km of world-class MTB trails in Mt Kembla is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2023. Help bringing mountain bike events is our priority moving forwards and we are exploring all optionsThis will also be a space to attract international visitation for cycling tourism. Josh and I can help by advocating about this opportunity to our international networks as well as advising on development infrastructure.
Is there a community project you would like to highlight in particular?
Josh: Since the road cycling event I am already in talks with numerous mountain bike teams to bring them out to Wollongong for their 2023 team camps in the lead up to our first race of the Enduro World Series next year in Tasmania. Being able to provide some local knowledge and insight to our town is fantastic and now having the facilities and support to host international teams makes me feel super proud of Wollongong’s development and more than willing to encourage other cities to take on similar roles with their own city ambassadors.
Samara: Broadly speaking, the coolest project is the ongoing development of Wollongong as a UCI Bike City. Wollongong is on an exciting journey of transformation from an industrial mecca to knowledge services and technology hub with a world-class university and enviable lifestyle that celebrates the great outdoors. Wollongong has continued investment in cycling infrastructure as part of its 2030 Cycling Strategy. Looking ahead, I’ll be coordinating a Bike City Conference next year, inviting cities from Australia and New Zealand to share knowledge around attractive and accessible cycling. Ultimately the goal is to develop cycling-city knowledge and benefits worldwide.
Do you think other UCI Bike Cities & Regions could benefit from Wollongong’s ambassador model?
Samara: Absolutely! I think in every cycling city or region you will find cycling enthusiasts like us. The opportunity to help create a super cycling destination is really exciting. Having raced around the world for so many years, we love to be able to share our knowledge and network reach to help our community. I also think the ambassador role is key part to maximising the legacy of the UCI Road World Championships. Josh and I will keep pushing for an inclusive, safe and fun cycling environment for our community.